Wait...Frankenstein "Plus" and "Classic"?! Did we know about these already?

[Masta' C]

Wait...Frankenstein "Plus" and "Classic"?! Did we know about these already?

Did I miss the memo? Supposedly "developed with" and "approved by" Eddie himself...

Frankenstein "Classic"
8.2K, A2 PAF
Link: https://customshop.seymourduncan.com/frankenstein-classic/

Drawing its inspiration from Eddie's early P.A.F. pickup used during the making of the first 6 Van Halen records, this Frankenstein Classic humbucking pickup was developed and approved by Eddie himself in later years. Offering an impressive and articulate dynamic spectrum with exceptional clarity, the Alnico 2 magnet ensures a warm, full bodied and muscular tone. When combined with gain, it delivers the signature attack with perfect highs, aggressive mids, and robust low-end sound incredibly reminiscent of the early Van Halen sound. This pickup offers Eddie’s own perspective on the legendary tone of early Van Halen!

Frankenstein "Plus"
17.3K, A5 Hot Rod
Link: https://customshop.seymourduncan.com/frankenstein-plus/

Developed and approved by Eddie Van Halen himself in 2013, this hot-rodded version of the original Frankenstein humbucking pickup offers heightened output while preserving clarity when the volume knob is backed down. The Frankenstein Plus ensures maximum output and sustain. Once combined with gain and volume, the dynamic response of the Alnico 2 magnet delivers the distinctive crisp highs, assertive midrange, and powerful low-end response that are hallmarks of Eddie's unmistakable sound.

 

[Mincer]

I'd probably love the 'Classic'.

 

[Masta' C]

CORRECTION: The "Plus" is also A2-based, I accidentally typed "A5"...

Wonder how it differs from the RTM and/or Super V?

 

[Mincer]

CORRECTION: The "Plus" is also A2-based, I accidentally typed "A5"...

Wonder how it differs from the RTM and/or Super V?

Someone needs to buy all of them to compare for us!

 

[marcello252]

Seems a take on the '78 and the Custom Custom..

 

[Chistopher]

Frankenstein Classic is basically the EVH Frankenstein, and Frankenstein Plus is basically the EVH Wolfgang.

Didn't we solve this one a while ago?

 

[beaubrummels]

Yeah, pretty sure they are just renames of previous EVH pickups that Duncan did.

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, pretty sure they are just renames of previous EVH pickups that Duncan did.

I honestly can't keep them straight. I am sure they all sound different, but with similar names, I forget which is which.

 

[Masta' C]

Frankenstein Classic is basically the EVH Frankenstein, and Frankenstein Plus is basically the EVH Wolfgang.

Didn't we solve this one a while ago?

Uh, no...

Frankenstein = 14.4K, A2

Wolfgang (bridge) = 14K, A2

 

[beaubrummels]

I honestly can't keep them straight. I am sure they all sound different, but with similar names, I forget which is which.

These could actually be new variants on the recipe. Specs are slightly different from the older ones.

EVH "Evenly Voiced Harmonics"
8.75k Alnico 2, long leg humbucker 2-conductor

'78 Model
9.0k, Alnico 2, short leg Trembucker (or standard, different DCR), 4-conductor, plain enamel

EVH Frankenstein (made by Seymour Duncan for FMIC)
14k, degaussed Alnico 2, poly

IM1
15k, degaussed Alnico 5, (plain enamel​? MJ said it's "a different magnet wire")

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/forum/the-pickup-lounge/160979-evh-frankenstein-humbucker
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/for...355-frankenstein-classic-vs-seymour-duncan-78
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/forum/the-pickup-lounge/277469-difference-between-78-and-im-1
https://darthphineas.com/2017/07/seymour-duncan-78/
https://darthphineas.com/2018/04/seymour-duncan-custom-shop-im1/​
https://darthphineas.com/2020/09/evh-wolfgang/

 

[Mincer]

I realize I was never the target market for all things EVH, but you can't say we don't have choices.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Seems a take on the '78 and the Custom Custom..

More like the JB or the RTM. EVH did use the JB at some point. That's how the Tone Zone came about.

 

[Masta' C]

Exactly...is the hotter one an overwound JB or a rebranded RTM...maybe a hybrid of both with an A2?

I could definitely cop some VH vibes with the RTM and Super V when I've used them in the past

 

[Chistopher]

More like the JB or the RTM. EVH did use the JB at some point. That's how the Tone Zone came about.

Tone Zone was the broken JB if I recall

 

[Masta' C]

Tone Zone was the broken JB if I recall

The Tone Zone is one of 7 prototype models made for EVH that were each inspired by his "broken" JB. None were an exact recreation.

After the first 5 prototypes didn't quite hit the mark, DiMarzio created 2 additional pickups that were largely similar to one another, with the biggest difference being one had balanced coils and one had offset coils.

The balanced one went on to become the MusicMan/Axis bridge pickup and the offset one went on to become the Tone Zone. Both use A5 mags